Bradley George Boxberger Bio Info

Selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round (43rd overall) of the 2009 June Draft…signed by Rex De La Nuez. Acquired by the San Diego Padres along with 1B Yonder Alonso, C Yasmani Grandal and RH Edinson Vólquez from Cincinnati in exchange for RH Mat Latos, December 17, 2011. Acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays along with RH Matt Andriese, INF Logan Forsythe, RH Matt Lollis and INF Maxx Tissen-baum from San Diego in exchange for RH Jesse Hahn and LH Alex Torres, January 22, 2014.

2016

Made only 27 apps in an injury-plagued sea-son, just one year removed from being named an American League All-Star and leading the AL with 41 saves…endured two trips to the DL, costing him a total of 99 games …pitched in only one game over the first four months of the season. Became the first to not record a save the year after leading the AL in saves since TOR Duane Ward in 1993. Underwent surgery on March 17 to repair the adductor brevis muscle in the groin area…Dr. William Meyers performed the procedure in Philadelphia…began the year on the DL and was reinstated May 30 …the next day in Kansas City, made his season debut but exited the game due to a left oblique injury after 0.2 IP, 17 pitches and a 2-run homer to Kendrys Morales…placed on the DL on June 1 and reinstated July 29. After returning from his second DL stint, made 11 consecutive scoreless apps spanning 11 in-nings from July 31-Aug 26…posted a 7.82 ERA (12.2-IP, 11-ER) over his final 15 apps. Yielded 19 BB in 24.1 IP, compiling ratios of 7.03 BB/9 IP, 1.16 SO/BB and 1.73 WHIP. Earned 4 wins, 2nd among Rays relievers af-ter Erasmo Ramirez (6)…the first came Aug 4 vs. KC and ended his 7-game losing streak, one shy of the club record for a reliever (Dan Wheeler, 2007). On Sep 20 vs. NYY, yielded a career-high-tying 4 runs (3rd time, last Sep 14, 2015 vs. NYY) and 4 hits, his most since June 2, 2013 vs. TOR (5, with SD)…in the season finale on Oct 2 at TEX, issued a career-high 4 BB. Made a total of 11 rehab apps between Class-A Charlotte, Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery.

2015

In his second season with the Rays and first full year in the majors, was named to his first All-Star Team and led the American League with 41 saves…joined Rafael Soriano (45 in 2010) as the only Rays pitchers to lead the league in saves…it was the fifth 40-save season in Rays history (see chart)…became the Rays 10th different save leader in the last 11 seasons. Ê His 10 losses in relief led the majors and tied for the most by any relief pitcher in the last 10 seasons (2006-15)…also set a club record for relief losses (prev. 8, last by Joel Peralta in 2013)…the only pitcher to ever match his combination of at least 10 losses and 41 saves was COL Jose Jimenez in 2002 (10-L, 41-SV)… Ê According to Baseball Reference, 236 of his 271 batters faced (87.1 pct.) came in "Late & Close" situations-in the 7th inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one or the tying run on deck…this ranked 3rd in the majors behind teammate Jake McGee (91.8 pct.) and ATL Jason Grilli (89.3)…the last major league pitcher to face as many batters as Boxberger with a rate that high was LAA Francisco Rodriguez in 2008 (91.3 pct.). Yielded 32 BB, tied for 5th most among AL relievers…yielded 9 HR for a second straight season…only one AL reliever has allowed more homers than Boxberger (18) over the past two seasons: TEX Shawn Tolleson (19). Converted his first 15 save chances, one shy of the club record to start the season (Rafael Soriano in 2010, Al Reyes in 2007)…had his first blown save June 3 at LAA on a game-tying sac fly by Erick Aybar…Rays won 6-5 in 10 innings. The Rays bullpen's 60 saves were most ever by a team with a losing record…Boxberger recorded only 16 of their first 30 saves, but had 25 of their last 30 (from June 19 through season's end)…recorded a save in each of his last 7 appearances. Twice saved all 3 wins of a 3-game sweep: July 10-12 vs. HOU and Sep 29-Oct 1 vs. MIA… the only other Rays to do that were J.P. Howell (July 17-19, 2009 at KC), Troy Percival (April 22- 24, 2008 vs. TOR) and Danys Baez (Aug 19-21, 2005 vs. TEX). Ê Absorbed a club-record 6 walk-off losses, most in the majors since PHI Brad Lidge in 2009 (6)…others who have suffered 6 or more walkoff losses in an All-Star campaign include NYY Goose Gossage (6 in 1978) and NYY Sparky Lyle (6 in 1973)…5 of those walk-off losses came in a stretch of 9 road apps, July 4- Aug 18…the full list: April 10 at MIA, July 4 at NYY, July 7 at KC (G1), July 22 at PHI, Aug 5 at CWS and Aug 18 at HOU. Made 11 scoreless apps vs. Boston, equaling the most in major league history in a season…joined TB Grant Balfour (2014), TOR Scott Schoeneweis (2005) and BAL Buddy Groom (2001)…in his career, is 2-0 with 6 saves and a 0.48 ERA (18.2-IP, 7-H, 1-R/ER, 10-BB, 31-SO) in 17 apps vs. the Red Sox…on Aug 2 at BOS, struck out the side to close out a 4-3 win, becoming the sixth visiting reliever since 1969 to earn a save at Fenway Park by entering the game with his team holding a one-run lead, pitching at least one inning, and striking out every batter faced (Elias Sports Bureau). Five of his last 6 apps were hitless and scoreless.

2014

Turned in one of the best seasons in Rays history by a reliever despite spending most of April with Triple-A Durham...ranked 4th among major league relievers and set a club relief record with 104 SO, breaking J.P. Howell's mark of 92 (2008)...went 5-2 with 2 saves and a 2.37 ERA (64.2-IP, 17-ER) in 63 games...Struck out 104 of his 247 batters faced (42.1 pct.), a club record and the highest rate in AL history by a right-handed reliever...his 14.47 SO/9 IP were a club record, topping Grant Balfour's 12.65 mark in 2008, and ranked 3rd in the majors after CIN Aroldis Chapman (17.67) and BOS/BAL Andrew Miller (14.87)...Held opponents to a .155 (34-for-219) avg., 4th lowest among AL relievers Held opposing lefty hitters to a .107 (11-for-103) avg., best in the majors (min. 100 AB)...it was the 3rd-best mark by a right-handed reliever since 1974, when records were first available (see chart)...compiled streaks of 0-for-43 (May 20-Aug 8) and 1-for-59 (May 20-Aug 21) vs. lefties...Allowed 9 HR, tied with teammate Joel Peralta for 4th most among AL relievers...13 of his 17 runs allowed scored via home run...On May 8 vs. BAL, replaced David Price with no outs and the bases loaded in the 6th, and struck out the side on 9 pitches...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first reliever to enter with the bases loaded and strike out his first 3 batters faced in that same inning since TOR Jesse Carlson on April 16, 2008 vs. TEX...Earned his first save as a Ray on July 2 at NYY with a perfect 9th inning and 2 SO...on Aug 24 at TOR, pitched the 10th inning to preserve a 2-1 win and overcame a two-on, no-out jam...Suffered 3 blown saves...on May 15 at LAA, replaced Grant Balfour with 2 runners on and allowed a walk-off, 3-run homer to Mike Trout...the others occurred on Aug 8 at CHC and Aug 23 at TOR...Earned his first career victory June 30 at NYY...threw perfect 11th and 12th innings...Tallied 18 SO in Durham, giving him a total of 122 SO in 74 IP between the majors and minors...began the season in Durham's bullpen...made 4 scoreless apps over two major league stints (April 14-18, May 1) before he was called up for good May 5.

2013

Posted a 2.86 ERA (22-IP, 7-ER, 24-SO) in 18 games for San Diego over five stints in the majors, but spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Tucson (Padres)... Limited left-handed hitters to a .182 (6-for-33) avg. while righthanders hit .302 (13-for-43)... Over his final 15 appearances, had a 2.08 ERA (17.1-IP, 4-ER)... Earned his first save on June 6 at COL, closing out a 6-5, 12-inning game by retiring Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer... Was 2-4 with 5 saves and a 3.61 ERA (57.1-IP, 23-ER, 89-SO) in 42 relief apps for Tucson…averaged 13.97 SO per 9 IP, the best strikeout rate in the Pacific Coast League (min. 50 IP)... Entered 2013 rated by Baseball America as the 11th-best relief pitching prospect in the game.

2012In his first season with the Padres organization, made 37
relief appearance for Triple-A Tucson while also seeing his first
Major League action with 24 outings for San Diego.
Selected from Triple-A Tucson on 6/10 and made his Major League
debut for the Padres that day at MIL, working a scoreless inning. Held right-handed hitters to a .208 (11-for-53) average while
holding lefties to a .239 (11-for-46) average for San Diego.
Posted a 1.45 ERA (1 ER/6.1 IP) with eight strikeouts against
seven walks in his first five career outings before being optioned back to Tucson on 6/26.
Recalled for his second stint on 7/30 and posted a 5.00ERA (5ER/9.0 IP) with 12 strikeouts against six walks over
eight outings before being optioned back to Tucson on 8/22.
Recalled the next day on 8/23 and optioned back to Tucson on 8/26 without making an appearance.
Recalled for his fourth and final time on 9/4, posting a 1.46 ERA(2 ER/12.1 Ip) and 13 strikeouts against five walks
over his final 11 outings for the Padres.
Recorded 33 strikeouts against 18 walks in his 24 games overall, posting 10.7 strikeouts per 9.0 IP and a .222
(22-for-99) opponent batting average.
In 37 relief outings for Tucson, went 2-2 with five saves, a 2.70 ERA(13 ER/43.1 IP) and 62 strikeouts against 19
walks and just 37 hits allowed, no home runs.2011Split his season between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville, combining to post a 2-3 record with 11 saves and a 2.03 ERA (14 ER/62.0 IP) in 55 relief outings...Averaged 14.9 strikeouts per 9.0 IP during his 30 games with Carolina (57 strikeouts in 34.1 IP).2010Spent his first full professional season between Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Carolina, going 5-10 with a 4.91 ERA (50 ER/91.2 IP)...Ranked by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the Reds organization entering the season...also rated as having the best fastball in the system.